As the Countdown Timer to the right indicates, I’m 99 days from expected departure! When I first set the timer up earlier in the year, I believe it was somewhere just over 200 days. While that may seem like a drop in the bucket, in reality it has been an eternity!
The waiting this year has reminded me of the months preceding my first semester of college. After the excitement of high school graduation, I found myself unable to get a summer job. Having moved to Virginia two years prior, and not done a good job at making friends, I just kept telling myself I’d start a new (and more sociable) chapter of life once I arrived at college. In the meantime though, I was simply counting down the days.
This time around, I have a career and plenty of friends, however I once again find myself simply counting down the days until the next (and most adventurous) chapter in my life. I stay in during the weekends to prevent myself from spending money. I’m not pressing myself to date. I make do with the clothes I have, rather than buying new stuff. I tune out all conversations about high-definition TV!
Regardless of how successful I am at staying in the present moment these last 99 days, it’ll all be worth it when I’m swaying in the breeze on a hammock in the South Pacific, and falling asleep on the deck of a felucca while sailing down the Nile River.
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Dave is the author of 1529 posts on Go Backpacking.
Dave (Editor-in-Chief) blogged his way around the world from 2007-2009, and then started Travel Blog Success to teach others how to do the same. When not writing, he can be found salsa dancing in Medellin. Follow him on Twitter @rtwdave or look for him on Google+
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Categories: Pre-trip
12 Comments
Awesome, Dave! To me, 99 days seems so soon – little more than 3 months.
Mike -
Some days it feels like forever, and others I almost wish it would slow down.
I’ve broken up the time into smaller bits – 6 weeks until I submit my notice at work, then 6 weeks till my last day, followed by 2 weeks until I fly away. I’m also breaking up those periods into smaller ones – basically taking it one day, and one week at a time!
Awesome, Dave! To me, 99 days seems so soon – little more than 3 months.
Mike -
Some days it feels like forever, and others I almost wish it would slow down.
I’ve broken up the time into smaller bits – 6 weeks until I submit my notice at work, then 6 weeks till my last day, followed by 2 weeks until I fly away. I’m also breaking up those periods into smaller ones – basically taking it one day, and one week at a time!
Dave! Don’t wait for your trip to have great experiences, get outside now and make some great memories. You could do a post about things to do for FREE in the D.C., Virginia area. You do have to watch your knees, but I bet you can come up with some creative ideas. Pack a bag lunch and off you go!
Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I want to tell you how excited I am for you. Your departure date is within reach, only 99 more days! Very cool.
Stacy – always great advice. I was thinking of picking 3 inexpensive sights to see given there is a chance I won’t be settling back in the DC area upon my return. So far, I was thinking of Ben’s Chili Bowl – a famous chili place in DC, the new Air Force Memorial near the Pentagon which I pass on my daily commute, and a yet to be determined place.
And of course I’d share it on here! :)
Dave! Don’t wait for your trip to have great experiences, get outside now and make some great memories. You could do a post about things to do for FREE in the D.C., Virginia area. You do have to watch your knees, but I bet you can come up with some creative ideas. Pack a bag lunch and off you go!
Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, I want to tell you how excited I am for you. Your departure date is within reach, only 99 more days! Very cool.
Stacy – always great advice. I was thinking of picking 3 inexpensive sights to see given there is a chance I won’t be settling back in the DC area upon my return. So far, I was thinking of Ben’s Chili Bowl – a famous chili place in DC, the new Air Force Memorial near the Pentagon which I pass on my daily commute, and a yet to be determined place.
And of course I’d share it on here! :)
WoW since I have been following your site time has flown by what will i read in 100 days :cry: !!
While my posts from the road will be less frequent, I hope they’ll be much more exciting! :grin:
WoW since I have been following your site time has flown by what will i read in 100 days :cry: !!
While my posts from the road will be less frequent, I hope they’ll be much more exciting! :grin: